Still
soaring high

A 64-year veteran of the atmospheric sciences, Joach is an explorer-scientist
whose high-flying exploits in unmotorized aircraft have earned him a place
in the Soaring Hall of Fame. His doctoral thesis at the University of
Hamburg in 1939 provided the first scientific description and explanation
of so-called mountain waves, which glider pilots had known about for some
time. On one experimental flight, he climbed to 23,000 feet without oxygen,
an unofficial world altitude record.

Its a challenge and joy to get intimate with the atmosphere,
Joach says. Two ways Ive done this are while being alone on
a mountaintop observatory and while soaring in a sailplane.

His distinguished career includes working on the Mercury and Apollo space
programs and leading a number of global meteorological experiments, including
the Global Atmospheric Research Programme Atlantic Tropical Experiment
(GATE). He has been based at NCAR and UCAR since 1985. NSF in 1994 awarded
him the Distinguished Chair for Atmospheric Science and International
Research at UCAR.

Joachs talk, The Joy and Adventure of Exploring the Atmosphere,
is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 19 February, in the Boulder Public
Library auditorium at 9th Street and Canyon Boulevard.